What’s Cooking with Alan Scott Pate

Miss Fukishima

Japanese Friendship Doll by Takizaku Koryusai, 1927

Alan Scott Pate is the leading world authority on Japanese dolls. A prolific author, Alan has published articles in a variety of magazines, produced lecture videos and written books including Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll (Tuttle, 2005), and Japanese Dolls: TheFascinating World Of Ningyo (Tuttle, 2007). Alan has a gallery located in St. Ignatius, Montana. His gallery is dedicted to the sale of the highest quality Japanese dolls from the Edo Period (1612-1868) with additional select examples from the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho Eras (1912-1926). Alan has also curated many exhibits and currently his exhibit “Entertaining the Gods and Man: Japanese Dolls and the Theatre” is on display at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens located in Delray Beach, Florida, from October 2nd through to January 27th, 2013.

Alan has given many lectures and seminars at UFDC Conventions. This year is a first for UFDC and Mr. Pate. Not only will he be putting on an exhibit for UFDC but he will also be the focus of a meal event. Alan will be sharing the story of two of the original “Friendship Dolls”. The “Friendship Dolls” were gifts sent to the United States in the 1927. Fifty-eight of these dolls were sent originally and today only 46 are accounted for. The two Friendship Dolls that will be the focus of the convention exhibit and Alan’s program are: Miss #46, recently discovered and now back from restoration and exhibition in Japan, and Miss Kyoto, also just returned from restoration and exhibition in Japan. We are thrilled that the New Orleans convention will be the first time they will be displayed together in the United States. Miss Kyoto belongs to the Little Rock Museum of Discovery and will be on loan before her formal return to the museum.

Alan has also been working with the original factory that produced these dolls and these “Friendship Dolls” in miniature (the originals stood 33 inches tall) will be the event dolls given to attendees. A special and unique event and one not to be missed!

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work. Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans